Italy in the Era of Salvini: Human Rights cannot be a Matter of the Flag

Periods of serious financial crisis always bring about political upheaval. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that the global crisis saw huge and rapid changes within both national and international political order. Views have changed from “go Europe!” and “more and more internationality!” to lifting walls and closing ports at an incredible rate.

If there is a general move towards right-wing policy at the international level my country and the base for our masters, Italy, is not an exception.

The High Commissioner of the United Nations, Michelle Bachelet, has announced that inspectors will be sent to Italy due to concerns about immigration policies. Mr Salvini, the Minister of the Interior, first denied a problem of racism in Italy and then questioned Italy’s economic support to the UN. However, the UN’s decision should not be a surprise as the government’s policy has been focused mostly on immigration issues and subordinated to the ideology of Minister Salvini. The secretary of the political Party “Lega” promotes a policy of “Italians first” which has contributed to a climate of racial hatred.

“His words sparked alarm concerning the number of the immigrants arriving in Italy: he speaks of an invasion“

Within only 50 days of the installation of the new government, already 10 racial aggressions had been reported and the number continues to rise. Minister Salvini has made statements of doubtful constitutionality about the need to introduce a census for Roma people (a census made on the basis of ethnicity is unconstitutional and reminiscent of fascist laws). His words sparked alarm concerning the number of the immigrants arriving in Italy (he speaks of an “invasion” yet official statistics contradict this). Furthermore, he is currently being investigated for aggravated abduction, because he prevented the landing of migrants, including minors, for five days from a military ship which had rescued them.

The toxicity towards migrants can be seen on a
daily and local basis. Mustapha Hadji, a fellow student of the European Master
on Human Rights and Democratisation in Venice, had been in Italy for only two
weeks when he claims he was mistreated by agents during a police
identification:

“When I told them I was from Morocco, they asked for my ID. They were deliberately aggressive, they were verbally abusive. They took photos of my ID without my permission. When I asked for an explanation, one of them held my chest and yelled that I had to wait. I have a voice, I have an institution behind me that can support me, I have people who have helped me. I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for immigrants without this kind of support.”

In the current political and social climate, the new Italian Government approved its first measure: the Security and Immigration Decree, which currently has a temporary legal value and needs the ratification of Parliament to become definitive law.

The major points of this Decree that relate to
Immigration are:

Abrogation of the humanitarian residence permit which has been replaced by permission released in “special cases”;

Doubling the amount of time allowed in pre-removal detention centres (CPR);

Adding to the list of crimes that, in case of a definitive sentence, deny or revoke the international protection;

In some criminal proceedings against asylum seekers, the territorial Committee will make a decision on the case and the applicant will have to leave the national territory, including during the appeal;

Resizing programs of reception and integration, reserved only to the holders of international protection and unaccompanied minors;

Forfeiting citizenship on the conviction of serious offences relating to intent of terrorism or subversion.

The last provision distinguishes between citizens by-birth and foreigners who have acquired Italian citizenship. It could be argued that this violates the principle of non-discrimination.

Currently, another piece of legislation, the Economic and Financial Planning Document (DEF), is being discussed. This document contains a highly-anticipated provision: the “income of citizenship”. In September, Luigi Di Maio, Minister of Economic Development and Labour and Social Policies, affirmed that this will be reserved only for Italian citizens. However, the now submitted DEF gives “income for citizenship” to foreigners who have been residents in Italy for a minimum of 10 years as well. This revision was necessary to avoid violations of EU norms. “It is unacceptable, according to the European right, that a welfare provision, as the income of a citizen, can be given only to Italians”[1] affirms Tiziano Treu, a previous Minister of Labour, with reference to the fact that the European Court of Justice has confirmed the illegitimacy of such discriminatory actions on many occasions. The Italian Constitutional Court has also repeatedly decided to reject discrimination towards non-EU citizens in the accessions of welfare provisions.

“There is a general increase in solidarity actions, a large part of Italy disagrees with this politic.”

Fortunately, an important part of civil society continues to stand up for the rights of immigrants. Very important work is done by NGOs, who are often on the frontline rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean Sea and denouncing human rights violations. There is a general increase in solidarity actions, with civil society attempting to send the message that a large part of Italy disagrees with this politic, and demands respect for human rights. One of the latest actions taken is the sailing of a migrant rescue boat that flies the Italian flag, defying anti-immigration policies. The boat has been bought and equipped by a coalition of left-wing politicians, anti-racist associations, intellectuals and figures in the arts, and upheld by NGOs. Its mission has been called Mediterranea. The objective is to monitor, document, inform and denounce but also to help save human lives.

In the Mediterranea’s mission statement we
read: “This is a moral disobedience
mission but also a civil obedience one. We will disobey nationalism and
xenophobia. Instead we will obey our constitution, international law and the
law of the sea, which includes saving lives.” [2]

Federica Russo graduated in Law with full marks at Federico II University of Naples in Italy. She wrote her final thesis about the relationship between States and Human Rights. Federica has considerable experiences volunteering with various NGOs and associations and she currently also writes human rights articles for Alternativa Europea.